The Neath Canal
Camlas Nedd
The Neath Canal is the longest canal in NPT, stretching for Briton Ferry to Glyn Neath in the Vale of Neath, more or less following the direction of the Neath River, which it crosses in a small aqueduct near Clyne.
Camlas Nedd yw’r gamlas hiraf yn CNPT ac mae’n ymestyn o Lansawel i Lyn-nedd ym Mro Nedd, gan ddilyn cyfeiriad afon Nedd i bob pwrpas, a’i chroesi ar hyd dyfrbont fach ger y Clun.
It can be accessed easily from many points in the valley, such as Giant’s Grave, Melyn, Bridge Street (Neath), Cadoxton, Aberdulais, Resolven and Aberpergwm. In most places the tow paths allow easy walking, and for much of its length the canal supports a diverse flora and fauna which are easy to observe. However, some parts of the canal between Aberdulais and Resolven are in poor condition and the towpath is less accessible.
A walk along the Neath Canal is rewarding at any time of year but it is particularly good for wildlife viewing in spring and summer. The stretch between Giants Grave and Neath is particularly good with colourful flowering plants such as Greater Spearwort, Common Valerian, Great Willowherb, Water Forget-me-not, Yellow Loosestrife, Purple Loosestrife and Meadowsweet. Otter are sometimes seen here early in the morning and Heron and Kingfisher are frequently encountered. Where there are banks of reeds the metronomic song of the Reed Warbler or the sudden burst of song from a Cetti’s Warbler is a common sound in spring and summer. Virtually all the common British damselflies and dragonflies are found along the canal, with spectacular displays in summer from the large and handsome Emperor Dragonflies patrolling their territories. Where the canal is shaded by trees, particularly between Tonna and Resolven, you may come across small groups of Beautiful Demoiselles.
Dipper and Grey Wagtail are occasionally seen along the stretch between Tonna and Clyne, where you may also be lucky to see a pair of Mandarin Duck. Moorhen are common everywhere and are often seen scuttling across the large floating leaves of Yellow Waterlily which dominate much of surface water between Briton Ferry and Neath. Other aquatics such as Broad-leaved Pondweed, Curled Pondweed, Water Starworts, Spiked Water-milfoil, Rigid and Soft Hornwort, Ivy-leaved Duckweed and Unbranched Bur-reed are also common.
Quiet observation of the water usually reveals the presence of fish such as Perch, Roach, Tench and Pike. In recent years, non-native terrapins have increased significantly and they can sometimes be seen basking out of the water in the canal near Giant’s Grave.
Mae modd cyrraedd y gamlas yn hwylus o sawl man yn y cwm, megis Bedd y Cawr, Melyn, Stryd y Bont (Castell-nedd), Llangatwg, Aberdulais, Resolfen ac Aberpergwm. Yn y rhan fwyaf o fannau, mae’r llwybrau halio yn cynnig llwybr hawdd i gerddwyr ac mae’r gamlas, bron ar hyd-ddi, yn cynnal fflora a ffawna amrywiol sy’n hawdd eu gweld. Fodd bynnag, mae rhannau o’r gamlas rhwng Aberdulais a Resolfen mewn cyflwr gwael ac nid yw’r llwybr halio mor hawdd ei ddefnyddio.
Mae’n werth cerdded ar hyd Camlas Nedd ar unrhyw adeg o’r flwyddyn ond mae cyfleoedd arbennig o dda i wylio bywyd gwyllt yn ystod y gwanwyn a’r haf. Mae’r rhan o’r gamlas rhwng Bedd y Cawr a Chastell-nedd yn arbennig o dda gyda phlanhigion blodeuol lliwgar megis y Llafnlys Mawr, Triaglog, Helyglys Pêr, Sgorpionllys y Gors, Trewyn, Llysiau’r-milwr Coch a’r Erwain. Gwelir dyfrgwn yma weithiau yn gynnar yn y bore ac mae’r Crëyr Glas a Glas y Dorlan i’w gweld yn aml. Yn y gwanwyn a’r haf, mae’n gyffredin clywed Telor y Cyrs neu Delor Cetti yn taro cân sydyn o’r gwelyau cyrs. Mae bron pob un o fursennod a gweision neidr cyffredin Prydain i’w canfod ar hyd y gamlas ac yn yr haf, gwelir gweision neidr hardd yr Ymerawdwr yn creu arddangosfeydd trawiadol wrth batrolio’u tiriogaeth. Yng nghysgod y coed, yn enwedig rhwng Tonna a Resolfen, fe allech ddod ar draws grwpiau bach o Forwynion Tywyll ar y gamlas.
Gwelir Bronwen y Dŵr a’r Siglen Lwyd o bryd i’w gilydd ar y darn o’r gamlas rhwng Tonna a’r Clun, lle gallech fod yn ddigon ffodus o weld pâr o Hwyaid Mandarin. Mae Ieir Dŵr yn gyffredin ym mhobman ac i’w gweld yn aml yn sgrialu dros ddail mawr Lili’r-dŵr Felen sy’n nodwedd amlwg ar wyneb y dŵr rhwng Llansawel a Chastell-nedd. Mae rhywogaethau dyfrol eraill, megis y Dyfrllys Llydanddail, y Dyfrllys Crych, y Briglwydd, Myrdd-ddail Ysbigog, Cyrnddail Caled a Chyrnddail Meddal, Llinad Dail Eiddew a’r Cleddlys Di-gainc hefyd yn gyffredin.
Fel arfer, mae modd gweld pysgod fel Draenogiaid, Rhufellod, Ysgretennod a Phenhwyaid trwy syllu’n dawel ar y dŵr. Yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae nifer y terapiniaid anfrodorol wedi cynyddu’n sylweddol ac weithiau gellir eu gweld yn torheulo allan o’r dŵr ar y gamlas ger Bedd y Cawr.
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